Heart Of Texas (Historical Romance)

by Constance O'Banyon

  She watched his fists ball at his sides.

  She didn't know what would have happened next if Kate hadn't come out of her house and seen Slaughter there. Kate came rushing toward them with her eyes flashing.

  "Cyrus, you leave her alone. She's just getting settled in, and she don't need you here stirring up trouble."

  He swung around to face the little woman. "Oh, I'll be stirring up trouble, all right, Kate. You can bet on that. Before long you'll be looking for a new home, because I'll be tearing your shack down." His glance went to the young woman. "I don't see anyone around here willing to help you except Kate, and she knows what happens to people who get in my way, don't you, Kate?" He ad justed his hat to an angle that satisfied him and dipped his head.

  "Ladies. Until the next time."

  "I'm not scared of you, Cyrus," Kate called after him as he walked toward his horse. She had planted her small body protectively in front of Casey and Jenny. "You may be able to bluff some people, but not me. Don't ever come back here."

  Cyrus made no other comment as he mounted his horse.

  "I'm afraid of him," Casey admitted as she watched him ride out of sight. "I have never met anyone like him before. He threatened us with such hatred, I could almost feel it in my heart. He is an evil man."

  Kate caught Casey's trembling hand in hers. "He's as bad as they come. I didn't reckon on him riding in big as you please. He usually has someone else do his calling for him. He must have been real set on meeting your family."

  "If today was the worst it gets, I can manage him. We had men like him in Virginia-we called them carpetbaggers. We dealt with them just fine."

  "But you had your pa with you then, didn't you?"

  Her heart sank. "Yes."

  "Honey, what you witnessed here today was just Slaughter's way of leaving his calling card. He'll be back meaner and stronger than ever; you can be sure of that. And he aims to run you off this ranch."

  "I don't understand why people let him get away with his meanness."

  Kate watched Cyrus disappear over the rise. "Not everyone will. Gabe won't."

  Sam had ridden in around sundown, exhausted but rambling excitedly about helping Gabe round up cattle and drive them into a pen. After he had eaten, he climbed to his loft and immediately fell asleep.

  Jenny, however, had been another matter. Casey had read her an entire chapter in her favorite book before the child finally nodded off to sleep. Casey herself was wide-awake.

  She couldn't get the threats Mr. Slaughter had made out of her mind.

  She covered jenny and left the bedroom, walking outside into the fresh air. A cloud crept across the moon, shrouding the landscape in shadows, but it was still light enough for her to make her way to the corral. Her shoulder was hurting so badly she wanted to cry.

  She leaned against the fence post and ran- her hand down the chestnut's glossy neck.

  "I heard you had a visitor today."

  She whirled around to find Gabe right behind her, and she wondered how long he had been standing there watching her. She glanced back at the gelding and patted his neck. "You moved so silently I didn't hear you."

  He came up to the fence and propped a booted foot on one of the rungs. "I learned to move quietly when I was young."

  She could not imagine him as a boy because he had such a commanding presence as a man.

  He turned his head away as he said, "Tell me about your visitor today." He stared straight ahead. "Kate told me about it, but I want to hear it from you."

  "There's not much to tell. Mr. Slaughter has the mistaken idea that he can scare us off our land."

  "Did he make threats?"

  "Veiled ones. Nothing I could accuse him of. But he threatened me all the same."

  "Cyrus is a hard man, Miss Hamilton, and a dangerous one. He can and will use whatever means it takes to get his hands on this ranch. Are you willing to fight him, or do you want to sell to him?"

  "I won't let him have the Spanish Spur."

  His tone hardened. "Think carefully before you answer, because if you decide to stay, there will be a war the likes of which you have never seen before."

  "I didn't come all this way to Texas to give up at the first sign of trouble. And you are wrong: I have seen a war, and nothing can be more frightening than Yankees burning my father's bank and our home. My brother and sister have already lost too much. I will not see them put out of another home."

  He was quiet for a moment. "Then it'll be a fight."

  "I'm not leaving."

  He reached out and softly touched her cheek with his knuckles. "I have seen grown men cringe before Cyrus Slaughter, and yet you, a little slip of a girl, are ready to take him on."

  It took her a moment to speak because the look in his eyes was so tender. She could not be mistaken about that. "You will have to tell me what we must do, because I don't know."

  "What you should do is leave."

  She started to say something, and he held up his hand. "I know, I know. You won't sell to him, although it would be better for you if you did. If it's a fight he wants, then it's a fight we'll give him."

  "Why would you do this for us?"

  He couldn't tell her that when she was hurt, it tore into him, dragging him down into the depths of despair with her. He had never had such a protective instinct toward any other woman. The feeling was too new for him to know how to deal with it, and he didn't want to examine it too closely.

  "Someday I may just tell you, when I have reasoned it out myself. Right now I'm warning you to be vigilant. Don't invite strangers into the house, and keep jenny close to you at all times. I don't want you to go anywhere alone."

  "But surely we are not in any physical danger. Mr. Slaughter wouldn't really hurt a woman or a child, would he?"

  "You don't understand." He gazed into the distance as if his mind were taking him to another place and time. "Cyrus won't care who you are. If you don't give in to his demands, he sees you only as as an enemy."

  "But I don't-"

  "Let me tell you about Cyrus Slaughter so you can judge him for yourself. It's not a pretty story."

  "I'm listening."

  "Cyrus had a daughter by his first wife, who was a respectable woman. When she died, he took a second wife, whom he did not find respectable enough to bring to Casa Mesa. He set her up in a house miles from nowhere and visited her only when the notion struck him."

  He paused for a moment, then went on. "Eventually Cyrus had a son by the second wife, and for years he saw the boy only on rare occasions. When the second wife died, she left a boy of thirteen- Sam's age. It seemed to give Cyrus some kind of sick pleasure to bring the boy to his home. You see, his son was wild, a little savage, and he knew nothing of the niceties of society. Cyrus set his boy down at the table with his daughter, Nora, who was seven years older. Folks who knew about it thought Cyrus was trying to humiliate his daughter."

  He was quiet for a long time, and she waited for him to continue.

  "As time passed Cyrus began to criticize everything Nora did, making her life very hard. She loved Frank Yates, a poor farmer her father didn't approve of. He wanted Nora to marry the man he had chosen for her-a man who was wealthy and would have added more land to Casa Mesa."

  Casey frowned. "What happened?"

  "The boy was rebellious because he hadn't wanted to come to the ranch, and it didn't take him long to realize his father had been using him to embarrass his half sister."

  "Was she embarrassed?"

  "No. Her father's actions had the opposite effect on Nora. I think you would have liked her; in some ways you remind me of her. She was sweet and soft-spoken, and everyone loved her. From the moment her half brother arrived, she treated him like her real brother. They would take long rides together, and she was responsible for any manners the boy had. She even taught him to read and write. They spent many hours reading to each other."

  "I would like very much to meet her."

  His eyes were almost color
less as he stared into the night. "The closeness of the brother and sister angered Cyrus. Everything came to a head the day the son came to the evening meal and displayed some semblance of civilized manners. Cyrus must have realized that his plan to humiliate Nora had failed. She told her father that night that nothing he could do would stop her from marrying Frank Yates. He became enraged, making all kinds of threats. At the time no one could have guessed the tragedy that would result from Cyrus's fury."

  "Please don't tell me he did anything bad to the boy."

  Gabe's eyes took on a sad expression. "Cyrus did something so deplorable, many of his neighbors still will not speak to him. His rage fell on Frank, the only person he could use to punish his daughter."

  Gabe looked away as if it were difficult to go on. Casey held her breath, afraid to hear the rest of his story and yet needing to know.

  "What did he do?"

  "Nora and Frank had planned their wedding for the next week. Frank loved her and wanted to get her away from her father. No one had anticipated that Cyrus's retribution would be so swift and hard. He claimed that Frank had rustled Slaughter cattle. Of course, everyone knew that Frank was an honest man, so no one believed the accusations."

  "Surely there was a trial, and Frank was cleared of the charges?"

  Gabe threw his head back, and she saw the mus Iles throbbing in his throat. "Cyrus thought he was above the law. He rounded up all his hands, and they dragged Frank out of his house in the middle of the night. They hanged him from a tree in his front yard."

  Casey gasped, feeling so sick she had to clamp her hand over her mouth. "Was he allowed to do such a thing? Did no one demand justice for...?"

  The hardness in his gaze stopped her. "No one would speak out against Cyrus. That very day Cyrus took Nora over to Frank's place and made her look at the man she loved hanging from a tree. She collapsed in a dead faint and had to be taken home. That same afternoon, she took her own life." He gripped the fence and lowered his head. "She shot herself."

  Tears gathered in Casey's eyes, and she touched his sleeve. "You loved her, didn't you?"

  He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Everyone loved Nora."

  "What happened to the boy?"

  "He was seventeen at that time. He joined the Confederate Army and went off to war, because he knew if he stayed in Texas, he'd kill Cyrus."

  "Where is he now?"

  "Some would say he died the day his sister killed herself; others believe he was killed in the war. Personally, I believe he is trying to forget the sight of his sister's body lying in a pool of blood on her bedroom floor."

  Casey again covered her hand with her mouth. "Oh. How can that be?"

  "It happened just the way I told you."

  "I would like to think that the boy has found peace."

  "Would you?"

  "If what you say is true, he is the tragic figure in all this. His sister is beyond caring, and Mr. Slaughter probably felt no remorse for destroying his own son and daughter. The son, if he is alive, must be devastated by what happened."

  He moved some distance from her. "The reason I told you about this was so you would know what you are up against. Cyrus is dangerous when anyone defies him."

  "I admit I am afraid of him, even more so since you told me about his son and daughter. But you have to understand this about me-I will not cower in a corner just because everyone else is afraid to defy him."

  He took a step toward her. "You don't understand-the lives of your brother and sister will mean nothing to him." He stopped so near her she could feel the heat of his body. "I don't want to see anything happen to the three of you."

  He was so tall she had to tilt her head to look up at him. "I will not give in to him," she repeated decisively.

  Gabe wondered what circumstances had honed Casey into the woman she had become. It was clear she had been raised in a genteel manner, but she was a scrapper who didn't run when life got hard. And lately her life had been very hard. He admired her more than he had ever admired anyone. He also couldn't be near her without wanting to take her in his arms. "Are you the one who put the wildflowers in the bunkhouse?"

  "I thought they would brighten the place up." She stared into his eyes. "What I don't understand," she said, taking the conversation back to him, "is why you help us when you know of the danger involved."

  "I have several reasons."

  "What are they?"

  He smiled as he tilted her chin up so he could see her face better. "Maybe it's because no one has ever given me flowers before." His voice deepened. "Maybe it's the little touches you add to everyone's life, the love and care you give your brother and sister. Shouldn't that inspire devotion in those around you?"

  She was aware that his chest expanded when he took a breath. "I'm glad you see me that way." She lowered her lashes. "But I often stumble through life not knowing what I'm doing."

  He reached across the fence and rubbed his hand against the horse's flanks. "You should be sleeping. You work hard and need your rest."

  He was dismissing her, and she knew it. "I have to go into town tomorrow to see my uncle's attorney. Can you spare Sam to go with me?"

  He turned to her, his gaze skimming her face.

  He hadn't meant to, but he drew her slowly into his arms. He halfway expected her to resist, but she came to him, her eyes wide with uncertainty. He cradled her head against him, wishing she was his to hold forever, but knowing she would never belong to him. He dipped his head, breathing in her sweetness. His lips brushed her hair, and his hand moved up her ribs just inches away from the tempting swell of her breasts.

  Realizing what he was doing, Gabe released her so quickly she almost stumbled until he steadied her.

  He had left so much unsaid between them, but it was the only way. "You need to get an early start for town in the morning. Take Sam and Kate with you. She's a good shot, and not many people want to get in her way when she's riled."

  Casey nodded, trying to hide her disappointment. She had wanted him to kiss her. How brazen she had become since meeting Gabe. "I will."

  When he walked toward the bunkhouse, she was reluctant to have him leave, so she called out to him, "Could you tell me where I could purchase a milk cow?" It appeared she would try anything to keep him near her.

  He paused and turned back to her. "A what?"

  "Sam and Jenny need milk. We were able to buy milk from the Fromes on the wagon train, but the children have been without milk ever since we started out on our own."

  He was quiet for a long moment, as if he were pondering her words. At last he said, "I'll see what I can do."

  She raised her gaze to his, looking embarrassed. "I... Can you tell me how much a cow will cost?"

  "Not nearly so much as beef cattle. I can probably get you one for four or five dollars."

  He saw the relief on her face. Someone needed to take care of her, but it wouldn't be him. Someday a nice young man from her own class would make her his wife. For all he knew she might have someone back in Virginia whom she loved. Besides, he had no time for settling down, and even if he did, he was not the kind of man she needed.

  She was innocent and... "Night, Miss Hamilton."

  With a heavy sigh, she walked toward the house. Tomorrow Sam and she would have to hear what the attorney had to say. She had little doubt that there would be debts to pay, and she didn't know where they would get the money.

  Sam had discovered their uncle Bob's buckboard stored in the barn. After he had cleaned and oiled it, he was relieved to find it sturdy and reliable.

  On the way to Mariposa Springs, Casey sat in the back with jenny while Sam drove, and Kate sat beside him, her rifle resting across her lap.

  When they reached town, Sam slowed the team to the same pace as the other wagons. Jenny was chattering away, while Kate slid her rifle under the seat.

  Casey looked about her and quickly concluded that the town was nothing like Charlottesville; in fact, it was nothing like any town she h
ad ever seen. The dirt road was muddy from the rain that had fallen during the early-morning hours, and the wooden buildings all looked alike, or so it seemed to Casey. The bank was small, and she could see through the window that the walls were a drab brown. There was a general store and a barbershop. They rode past a saloon, where a man had just stumbled out the door with his arms around a scantily clad woman. Casey quickly distracted jenny by directing her attention to the bolt of material that was displayed in the window of the dry-goods store.

  "Wouldn't you like to have a new yellow gown? That material is just right for you."

  "I don't want to see it right now," the child said, struggling to turn around and watch the drunk. "I want to see if that man is going to kiss that woman."

  Casey placed her hands on both sides of her sister's face. "That is none of our business, Jenny. Now, how about that yellow material?"

  "I'll let you make me a dress out of it if you'll put all the sparklies on it like that woman has on her gown."

  Kate chuckled as she pointed out the attorney's office. "You got your hands full with her. Land of mercy, that child makes me laugh."

  Sam halted beneath the sign that swayed overhead: BARTHOLOMEW J.MURDOCK, ATTORNEY-ATLAw. He handed Kate the reins and hopped to the ground, then took jenny in his arms and helped Casey disembark.

  "I'll meet you over to the general store when you've finished up here," Kate stated, still grinning at Jenny's antics.

  Casey was worried about the meeting with Mr. Murdock. Most likely he would have grim news for them. "Let's get this over with," she said, moving toward the door. "If he has bad news for us, we may as well know it right now."

  The bell above the door tinkled when they entered. The office was sparsely furnished with only a desk and three chairs. No one was in the outer office, but they heard someone shuffling through papers in the next room. They waited for several moments before a man finally appeared in the doorway.

  He smiled and nodded. "Good afternoon, ladies, gentleman. How can I help you?"